whether something in your diet or lifestyle may be contributing to your symptoms

Typically, to be diagnosed with atopic eczema you should have had an itchy skin condition in the last 12 months and three or more of the following:

visibly irritated red skin in the creases of your skin – such as the insides of your elbows or behind your knees (or on the cheeks, outsides of elbows, or fronts of the knees in children aged 18 months or under) at the time of examination by a health professional

a history of skin irritation occurring in the same areas mentioned above

generally dry skin in the last 12 months

a history of asthma or hay fever – children under four must have an immediate relative, such as a parent, brother or sister, who has one of these conditions

the condition started before the age of two (this does not apply to children under the age of four)

Causes of atopic eczema

The exact cause of atopic eczema is unknown, but it's clear it is not down to one single thing. Atopic eczema often occurs in people who get allergies – "atopic" means sensitivity to allergens.

It can run in families, and often develops alongside other conditions, such as asthma and hay fever.

The symptoms of atopic eczema often have certain triggers, such as soaps, detergents, stress and the weather. Sometimes food allergies can play a part, especially in young children with severe eczema.

You may be asked to keep a food diary to try to determine whether a specific food makes your symptoms worse. Allergy tests aren't usually needed, although they're sometimes helpful in identifying whether a food allergy may be triggering symptoms.

Treating atopic eczema

Treatment for atopic eczema can help to relieve the symptoms and many cases improve over time.

However, there's currently no cure and severe eczema often has a significant impact on daily life, which may be difficult to cope with physically and mentally. There's also an increased risk of skin infections.

Many different treatments can be used to control symptoms and manage eczema, including:

self care techniques, such as reducing scratching and avoiding triggers

emollients (moisturising treatments) – used on a daily basis for dry skin